Impact of Ongoing TikTok Ban Debates in the US on Gen Z
With TikTok taking its first steps towards potential bans in the US, anger towards Congress mounts, while Generation Z faces panic over the prospect of losing the platform forever. Let's delve into this frenzy together!
Following the 352-65 vote, the platform accused lawmakers of ignoring the impact on "the economy, seven million small businesses, and 170 million Americans" who use the service.
The app stated, 'This process was secretive, and the bill was rushed for one reason: it's a ban.'
The legislation is heading to the Senate before becoming law, and the platform said it hoped the upper chamber would "consider the facts" and "listen to their constituents."
Congress determined that the app posed a national security threat due to its ties to the Chinese Communist Party; lawmakers claimed the app monitored Americans' locations and manipulated its algorithm to influence young minds.
Generation Z influencers reacted with anger to the potential TikTok ban, sharing concerns about the impact on their income streams and the First Amendment.
Lawmakers are still debating between eliminating the potential national security threat posed by the app, owned by China, and restricting users' freedom of expression compared to major social media giants like Facebook.
Despite opposition from figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the bill passed on Wednesday sparked reactions from both sides.
TikTok creators shared warnings from the app urging them to call their congressional members and warning them that the bill 'risks their beloved community.'
An influencer filmed themselves calling their local congressional member and complaining that the proposed bill is "unfair."
They say on the phone, 'I firmly believe you should not pass this law. Many people have quit their jobs to become full-time content creators, and hopefully, this doesn't really happen...'
The vote came just over a week after the bill was proposed following little public scrutiny and over a year of inaction in Congress.
TikTok criticized the process in its statement, saying the bill was rushed 'secretly' to be 'crammed.' Last month, President Joe Biden's re-election campaign joining TikTok raised hopes among TikTok officials that the likelihood of legislation this year was low. We'll see what happens in the coming months. What are your thoughts on this?
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